DeLamater, John D., et al. Social Psychology. Taylor & Francis Group, 2018. ProQuest Ebook Central. Web.
The book on social psychology contains a detailed description of various mental health issues people develop. This is an important source for the present research as it provides data on symptoms and behaviors of people suffering from different psychological disorders. The mental health problem of the protagonist of the book is antisocial disorder, so this book contains rich details helping to diagnose the disease. Such symptoms as being disrespectful of other people, manipulating others, abusing verbally or physically others, as well as being irritable, aggressive, arrogant, and irresponsible are symptoms of this personality disorder. A brief review of these symptoms shows that Ignatius could be diagnosed with this mental health issue.
Freese, Peter. “A Medieval Crusader in Twentieth-Century New Orleans: John Kennedy Toole’s “A Confederacy of Dunces”.” American Studies, vol. 59, no. 3, 2014, pp. 357-386. JSTOR. Web.
The present article includes a detailed analysis of Ignatius’s behavior and the reasons behind his attitudes and perspectives. The author draws parallels between modernity and medieval times. The researcher states that the norms of the two epochs are intermingled to create Ignatius’s picture of the world where the idea of reward and punishment co-exist with the rota Fortunae concepts. It becomes clear that Ignatius’s antisocial behavior is deeply rooted in his inability to adapt to the environment, as well as his family history. Freese also notes that the author’s own traits and attitudes can be traced in the course of the development of Ignatius’s personality. This is a valuable source for the present research as it unveils the background of Ignatius’s attitudes and behaviors related to his mental state.
Goodwin, Jeremy D. “A Win for ‘Confederacy’.” American Theatre, vol. 33, no. 2, 2016, pp. 26-30. EBSCOhost. Web.
This source dwells upon the staging of the novel by John Kennedy Toole, A Confederacy of Dunces. Goodwin sheds light on the major aspects of the staging process and the challenges encountered by Boston’s Huntington Theatre Company in 2015 (26). The focus is on the protagonist of the story and the way Ignatius was acted out in a memorable way. The image of a ridiculous misfit who sees himself at the center of the world is created by placing Ignatius in the center of the play, where all the rest of the characters serve to highlight the most striking qualities of the protagonist. This source is relevant for the research as it provides insights into the traits of Ignatius’s character.
Henninger, Katherine. “Butterfly in the Typewriter: The Tragic Life of John Kennedy Toole and the Remarkable Story of A Confederacy of Dunces.” The Journal of Southern History, vol. LXXXI, no. 3, 2015, pp. 782-783. EBSCOhost. Web.
This article is concerned with the way tragic events in the life of John Kennedy Toole affected the main character of the book under analysis. Suicidal ideation is the symptom the author had, while Ignatius displayed a slightly different position, as he found comfort in food and writing or reading. Toole’s end of life was tragic and definite, while Ignatius’s story may have multiple endings, depending on the reader. Obviously, the main character of the book has many features in common with his creator. Mental health issues prove to be central to the story and the life of John Toole.
Kogan, Rick. “Giving New Life to the Author of ‘A Confederacy of Dunces’.” Chicago Tribune. 2020. ProQuest. Web.
The article includes valuable information regarding the history of the novel and its publishing. Kogan reviews a fictional biography of Toole, created by two authors, who lived in New Orleans. The parallels between the middle and the end of the twentieth century help in understanding the factors that affected Toole and shaped Ignatius’s traits. Kogan stresses that Ignatius is a reflection of Toole who was also an intellectual surrounded by dunces. This source is relevant for the present research as it sheds light on the aspirations of the protagonist of the book and his creator, which is instrumental in detecting some psychological disturbances that could emerge.
Leighton, H. Vernon. “The Dialectic of American Humanism: John Kennedy Toole’s A Confederacy of Dunces, Marsilio Ficino, and Paul Oskar Kristeller.” Renascence, vol. 64, no. 2, 2012, pp. 200–215. EBSCOhost. Web.
This article includes an insightful analysis of the main character of the book, Ignatius, with a focus on such aspects as melancholy and disorder. The author stresses that Ignatius feels misplaced and tries to replace some things (for example, proper relationships) with others (food, Medieval literature). The protagonist’s addiction to food is a sign of his mental disorder and the manifestation of his indulgence. This is a valuable source for the proposed research because it helps to understand the background and causes of Ignatius’s behavior. The article unveils some metaphors and parallels drawn in the book, helping to create the character who is opposed to society.
“Literary Journeys: Sara Wheeler Finds the Perfect Read to Celebrate New Orleans and Those Who Walk to the Beat of Their Own Drum.” The Daily Telegraph. 2021. ProQuest. Web.
The article includes a brief description of the setting and Ignatius’s life. It is stated that the novel is not about social aspects or anything related to truly political or social agendas. It is noted that the book can be seen as a manifesto for those who do not go in line with the rest but have their own tunes. This view is quite contrasting to the majority of the current literature on the novel and its protagonist, making it a valuable source for the present research. The author of this article articulates an important idea that Ignatius was different, although he had the life thousands of the inhabitants of the city did.
MacLauchlin, Cory. “The Professor and the Doomsday Clock: ‘A Confederacy of Dunces’ & Signs of John Kennedy Toole’s Suicide: On the 75th anniversary of the birth of the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel A Confederacy of Dunces, John Kennedy Toole’s biographer Cory MacLauchlin, the writer of Butterfly in the Typewriter: The Tragic Life of John Kennedy Toole and the Remarkable Story of “A Confederacy of Dunces,” tells us about the warning signs that led up to the suicide of one of America’s strangest literary geniuses.” The Daily Beast. 2012. ProQuest. Web.
This article includes an analysis of the history of the book’s creation and the life of the author. MacLauchlin notes that Ignatius bears many traits of Toole, who lived in New Orleans and displayed similar attitudes in some instances. The tragedy of the author and his creation, Ignatius, is analyzed and important insights into the main character’s psyche are provided. Being misunderstood and underestimated by the contemporaries are two tragedies of two men, fictional Ignatius and real Toole. This article is a relevant source for the present research as it can help in identifying the mental status of the protagonist of the book by considering the life and behaviors of the author.
Pugh, Tison. “Systemic Racism, Queer White Privilege, and the Carnivalesque Humor of John Kennedy Toole’s A Confederacy of Dunces.” The Southern Quarterly, vol. 57, no. 4, 2020, pp. 39-55. Ebscohost. Web.
This article deals with Ignatius Reilley’s involvement in the political life of the community and his attempts to launch a civil rights movement. The author analyzes the political activities of Ignatius, whose behavior is antisocial. It is stressed that John Kennedy Toole reveals his own political views and other attitudes regarding existing social issues by ridiculing Ignatius’s activism. This is a relevant source for the proposed research as it provides certain explanations of Ignatius’s behaviors and views. The protagonist’s political agenda suggests that his antisocial disorder manifests in his violent and abusive acts, as well as views on possible changes that could benefit society.
Slepov, Eugene. “Singularities of Time and Place”: A Study of Nativity as Ethnicity in A Confederacy of Dunces.” The Southern Quarterly, vol. 56, no. 2, 2019, pp. 8-21. ProQuest. Web.
The present article is concerned with the protagonist of A Confederacy of Dunces, with a focus on his behaviors and attitudes. The author stresses that Ignatius displays antisocial behaviors trying to find comfort in his fantasies related to the medieval epoch. The main character’s lack of practical skills and ability to develop proper relationships with anyone illustrate his mental health peculiarities. This article is a valuable source for the research on Ignatius as it provides an in-depth analysis of the protagonist’s behaviors and reasons for such conduct. The emphasis on the setting (Ignatius’s home, workplace, and community) sheds light on the psychological state of the man.